Barbara Hanawalt

Barbara Hanawalt is a medieval historian and professor emerita at Ohio State University, specializing in social and economic history of medieval England. Her research has significantly influenced the understanding of ordinary life, childhood, crime, and gender roles in medieval society. Hanawalt's landmark work "The Ties That Bound: Peasant Families in Medieval England" (1986) revolutionized the study of medieval family life by examining court records and coroners' rolls to reconstruct the daily experiences of peasant households. Her book "Growing Up in Medieval London" (1993) provided groundbreaking insights into childhood and adolescence in medieval urban settings. Throughout her career, Hanawalt served as president of the Social Science History Association and the Medieval Academy of America. She has published extensively on medieval crime, women's roles, and urban life, with particular attention to London's development during the medieval period. Her methodological approach combines detailed archival research with innovative analysis of legal and administrative records, setting new standards for social history scholarship. Hanawalt's work continues to influence medieval studies, particularly in the fields of family history and urban development.

Readers appreciate Hanawalt's ability to bring medieval social history to life through detailed primary source research. Comments frequently note her clear writing style and use of specific examples from historical records. What readers liked: - Makes complex historical concepts accessible to non-specialists - Thorough documentation and archival research - Focus on everyday people rather than nobility - Inclusion of original source material within text What readers disliked: - Dense academic writing in some sections - Repetitive examples in certain chapters - Limited appeal outside academic audiences Ratings: Goodreads: "The Ties That Bound" - 4.0/5 (87 ratings) "Growing Up in Medieval London" - 3.9/5 (64 ratings) Amazon: "The Ties That Bound" - 4.4/5 (28 reviews) "Growing Up in Medieval London" - 4.3/5 (12 reviews) Several academic reviewers cite her work's influence on medieval social history research methods. Student reviews often mention using her books as required reading in medieval history courses.

Growing Up in Medieval London (1993) Examines childhood, adolescence, and apprenticeship in London from 1300-1500 through records of coroners' rolls and court documents.

The Ties That Bound: Peasant Families in Medieval England (1986) Analysis of peasant family life in 14th century England, covering household structure, marriage, childrearing, and domestic relationships.

Of Good and Ill Repute: Gender and Social Control in Medieval England (1998) Study of gender roles, social control, and reputation in medieval English society through examination of court records and literature.

The Wealth of Wives: Women, Law, and Economy in Late Medieval London (2007) Investigation of women's economic roles and legal rights in medieval London, focusing on property ownership and business activities.

Crime and Conflict in English Communities 1300-1348 (1979) Detailed analysis of criminal behavior and justice systems in pre-plague England using coroners' rolls and legal documents.

Ceremony and Civility: Civic Culture in Late Medieval London (2017) Examination of London's civic culture through analysis of ritual, ceremony, and public behavior in the medieval period.

The European World, 300-1500 (2009) Overview of medieval European history covering social, economic, political, and cultural developments across the continent.

Frances Gies writes about medieval social history and daily life, focusing on common people rather than nobility. Her works examine marriage, family structure, and labor practices in medieval Europe through primary source analysis.

Judith Bennett specializes in medieval English women's history and peasant life. She explores gender roles, work patterns, and brewing practices in medieval villages using court records and manorial documents.

Caroline Walker Bynum studies medieval religious culture and its intersection with social practices. She examines food customs, gender, and body concepts in medieval Christian society.

Maryanne Kowaleski researches medieval maritime communities and urban life in England. She analyzes port towns, trading networks, and the social structures of medieval commercial centers.

Martha Carlin focuses on medieval London and urban life in England. She examines food markets, sanitation systems, and the daily routines of city dwellers using archaeological and documentary evidence.